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Govt says it is aware of the MOD's review of the Gibraltar Services Police
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The Government has confirmed that it is aware that the MOD has conducted, or is conducting, an in-house review of the Gibraltar Services Police, to which end the MOD has met with the RGP.
The Government adds that it "fully understands the concerns and uncertainty felt by GSP officers and their families arising from the MOD internal review."
This review, as we reported yesterday, was initiated in 2007. As we also made clear "Draft options are currently being considered and apparently no final decisions have taken place."
However, there is a strong feeling of suspicion that the review outcome favours the demise of the GSP, say infoirmed sources, as options which allow the GSP to retain their identity and integrity "are being swept aside."
The Government, in its reaction, says it is surprised at the statements emanating from GSP sources. The Government has not yet met with the MOD in respect of the possible transfer of policing functions, has not yet commenced discussions or negotiations on that subject and no proposal to which the Gibraltar Government is a party exists.
MOD MEETS RGP
The Government is aware that the MOD has conducted, or is conducting an in-house review of the GSP, to which end MOD has met with the RGP. The Government has not had sight of any MOD internal report into the GSP and does not know what it contains. Accordingly, statements about the transfer of 60 or any other number of GSP officers to the RGP or about the Government having a particular preference in respect of any aspect of the GSP are simply incorrect, says the Government.
'Incorrect' may be the wrong choise of word, because if the Government claims not to have had sight of the review, how can it say 60 is correct or incorrect.
The press release from No.6 says: When discussions and/or negotiations do start about the possible transfer of policing functions to the RGP, they will be conducted by the Government directly with the MOD. The Government has an outstanding commitment to the Gibraltar Services Police Staff Association to consult them, and keep them fully informed of that process when it occurs. As the Government has repeatedly said to the GSP Association Committee, the Government has every intention to honour this commitment.
"In these circumstances, the Government is as surprised as it is disappointed by the story that has emerged, although the Government fully understands the concerns and uncertainty felt by GSP officers and their families arising from the MOD internal review," it says.
STAFF IN LONDON TALKS
In fact, with GSP officers said to feel 'betrayed' by certain peers within the MOD and the Gibraltar Government, a two-man delegation from the Gibraltar Services Police staff association are in London for crisis talks to try and resolve the predicament they see coming.
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